JNB - CHI

R10 317 Find Cheap Flights from Johannesburg to Chicago

This is the cheapest one-way flight price found by a KAYAK user in the last 72 hours by searching for a flight from OR Tambo to Chicago departing on 20/4. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel. Click the price to replicate the search for this deal.
1 adult
1 adult, Economy, 0 bags

KAYAK searches hundreds of travel sites at once for deals on flights to Chicago

 
These are the airlines KAYAK users have selected most often from within our search results in flight searches from Johannesburg to Chicago.
These are the airlines KAYAK users have selected most often from within our search results in flight searches from Johannesburg to Chicago.
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Everything you should know

Cheapest return fare
R13 828
Typical prices: R15 767-R21 033
Ethiopian Air
Thu 16/4Mon 11/5
JNB - ORD • 2 stops
Cheapest one-way flight
R10 317
Typical prices: R10 833-R13 878
Qatar Airways
Mon 20/4
JNB - ORD • 1 stop
Top airlines
Ethiopian Air
Cheapest • from R13 828 (return)
KLM
Best reviews • 7,7 score
Airline reviews
Airline reviews
+1
+1
Airline reviews
Airline reviews
+1
When to book
4 weeks
in advance
Our data shows that travellers who book at least 4 weeks in advance save around 14% compared to booking last minute.
Insights
Insights
Insights
Insights
When to travel
February
Cheapest • 11% price drop
June
Most popular
Good to know
Good to know
+1
+1
Good to know
Good to know
+1
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KAYAK searches hundreds of sites at once to find you the best travel deals.
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Flight Deals
Booking Insights
Flight Deals

Cheap Flights from Johannesburg to Chicago (JNB-CHI)

 
Here are some of the best deals found on KAYAK recently from the most popular airlines for return flights from Johannesburg to Chicago that are departing in the next months. While these flights were available on KAYAK in the last 72 hours, prices and availability are subject to change and deals may expire.
Discover the best prices for you by selecting your travel dates on KAYAK.

Recent return flight deals from OR Tambo to Chicago

Thu, Apr 16 - Mon, May 11
Ethiopian Air Logo
14:30 - 8:15
JNB
-
ORD
24h 45m2 stops
Ethiopian Air Logo
10:15 - 20:10
ORD
-
JNB
26h 55m1 stop
R13 828Ethiopian Air
Tue, Feb 10 - Tue, Feb 17
Turkish Airlines Logo
19:10 - 10:05
JNB
-
ORD
22h 55m1 stop
Turkish Airlines Logo
20:20 - 10:50
ORD
-
JNB
30h 30m1 stop
R14 044Turkish Airlines
Thu, Apr 16 - Mon, May 11
Turkish Airlines Logo
17:50 - 9:40
JNB
-
ORD
22h 50m1 stop
Turkish Airlines Logo
11:25 - 10:30
ORD
-
JNB
40h 05m1 stop
R14 344Turkish Airlines
Mon, Feb 9 - Mon, Feb 16
Turkish Airlines Logo
19:05 - 18:25
JNB
-
ORD
31h 20m1 stop
Turkish Airlines Logo
20:20 - 10:50
ORD
-
JNB
30h 30m1 stop
R14 660Turkish Airlines
Tue, Feb 10 - Tue, Feb 17
Lufthansa Logo
19:45 - 13:25
JNB
-
ORD
25h 40m1 stop
Lufthansa Logo
18:45 - 7:05
ORD
-
JNB
28h 20m2 stops
R15 326Lufthansa
Tue, Feb 10 - Tue, Feb 17
United Airlines Logo
22:00 - 13:15
JNB
-
ORD
23h 15m2 stops
United Airlines Logo
20:10 - 18:35
ORD
-
JNB
38h 25m2 stops
R15 575United Airlines
Tue, Feb 10 - Tue, Feb 17
Virgin Atlantic Logo
21:55 - 22:22
JNB
-
MDW
32h 27m1 stop
Virgin Atlantic Logo
12:45 - 19:00
MDW
-
JNB
22h 15m1 stop
R15 708Virgin Atlantic
Mon, Feb 9 - Mon, Feb 16
United Airlines Logo
19:45 - 15:20
JNB
-
ORD
27h 35m1 stop
United Airlines Logo
11:15 - 18:35
ORD
-
JNB
23h 20m2 stops
R15 875United Airlines
Thu, Apr 16 - Mon, May 11
KLM Logo
23:15 - 18:45
JNB
-
MDW
26h 30m2 stops
KLM Logo
13:00 - 21:20
MDW
-
JNB
25h 20m2 stops
R22 764KLM
Wed, Jun 3 - Wed, Jun 24
KLM Logo
23:15 - 18:05
JNB
-
MDW
25h 50m2 stops
KLM Logo
13:00 - 21:35
MDW
-
JNB
25h 35m2 stops
R26 658KLM
Booking Insights

KAYAK's insights & trends for OR Tambo to Chicago flights

Get data-powered insights and trends into flights from OR Tambo to Chicago to help you find the cheapest flights, the best time to fly and much more.

How much is a return flight from Johannesburg OR Tambo Airport to Chicago?

This analysis is based on the cheapest return trip price found on KAYAK in the last 12 months by searching for a flight from Johannesburg OR Tambo Airport to Chicago departing in April.

What’s the cheapest day of the week to fly from Johannesburg to Chicago?

The average price of all round-trip flights from Johannesburg OR Tambo Airport to Chicago clicked on KAYAK for each day over the last 12 months.

Your flight ticket price will generally be cheaper if you fly to Chicago on a Wednesday and more expensive on a Saturday. On your return trip to Johannesburg, you should consider flying back on a Wednesday, and avoid Mondays for better deals.

What is the cheapest month to fly from Johannesburg OR Tambo Airport to Chicago?

To calculate monthly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each month over the last year for round-trip flights from Johannesburg OR Tambo Airport to Chicago, removes the top 0.1% to account for outliers, and then takes the median of all values for each month.

The cheapest month for flights from Johannesburg OR Tambo Airport to Chicago is February, where tickets cost R15 941 (return) on average. On the other hand, the most expensive months are January and December, where the average cost of round-trip tickets is R20 634 and R19 835 respectively.

How far in advance should I book a flight from Johannesburg OR Tambo Airport to Chicago?

To calculate weekly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each week before departure over the last year for round-trip flights from Johannesburg OR Tambo Airport to Chicago, removes the top 0.1% to account for outliers, and then takes the average of all the values for each week.

To get a below average price on the flight from Johannesburg OR Tambo Airport to Chicago, you should book around 4 weeks before departure, which saves you about 14% compared to booking last minute. For the absolute cheapest price, our data suggests you should book 25 weeks before departure.

Good to know

Low seasonJanuary
Cheapest flightR10 317
Best time to beat the crowds but there is an average 15% increase in price.
Most popular time to fly (1% more expensive on average)
Flight from Johannesburg to Chicago O'Hare Airport

When to book flights from OR Tambo to Chicago

Are your dates flexible? Find out the best times to travel from OR Tambo to Chicago based on our flight data from the last year. Discover the cheapest month and even day to fly.
Estimated return price
KAYAK looks at all historical flight data for each date to provide a predicted price for one-way trips or returns with a duration up to 40 days. While we try to provide actual minimum prices for each date, some prices are predictions and actual prices may differ.

FAQs for booking Johannesburg to Chicago flights

  • What is the cheapest flight from Johannesburg OR Tambo Airport to Chicago?

    In the last 3 days, the lowest price for a flight from Johannesburg OR Tambo Airport to Chicago was R10 317 for a one-way ticket and R13 828 for a return.

  • Which airports will I be using when flying from Johannesburg to Chicago?

    Johannesburg is served by only 1 airport and there are 2 airports in Chicago. You will leave Johannesburg from Johannesburg OR Tambo and you will be arriving in Chicago at one of these airports: Chicago Midway or Chicago O'Hare Intl.

  • Which aircraft models fly most regularly from Johannesburg to Chicago?

    We unfortunately don’t have that data for this specific route.

  • Which airline alliances offer flights from Johannesburg to Chicago?

    SkyTeam, Star Alliance, and oneworld are the airline alliances operating flights between Johannesburg and Chicago, with SkyTeam being the most commonly used for this route.

  • Which is the best airline for flights from Johannesburg to Chicago, British Airways or KLM?

    The two airlines most popular with KAYAK users for flights from Johannesburg to Chicago are British Airways and KLM. With an average price for the route of R17 713 and an overall rating of 6,7, British Airways is the most popular choice. KLM is also a great choice for the route, with an average price of R17 792 and an overall rating of 7,7.

  • How does KAYAK find such low prices on flights from Johannesburg to Chicago?

    KAYAK is a travel search engine. That means we look across the web to find the best prices we can find for our users. With over 2 billion flight queries processed yearly, we are able to display a variety of prices and options on flights from Johannesburg to Chicago.

  • How does KAYAK's flight Price Forecast tool help me choose the right time to buy my flight ticket from Johannesburg to Chicago?

    KAYAK’s flight Price Forecast tool uses historical data to determine whether the price for a flight to Chicago from Johannesburg is likely to change within 7 days, so travellers know whether to wait or book now.

  • What is the Hacker Fare option on flights from Johannesburg to Chicago?

    Hacker Fares allow you to combine one-way tickets in order to save you money over a traditional return ticket. You could then fly to Chicago with an airline and back to Johannesburg with another airline.

  • What is KAYAK's "flexible dates" feature and why should I care when looking for a flight from Johannesburg to Chicago?

    Sometimes travel dates aren't set in stone. If your preferred travel dates have some wiggle room, flexible dates will show you all the options when flying to Chicago from Johannesburg up to 3 days before/after your preferred dates. You can then pick the flights that suit you best.

Reviews of the top 5 airlines flying from OR Tambo to Chicago

 
See real verified KAYAK customer reviews for airlines flying from Johannesburg to Chicago. Airline scores are aggregated from all reviews left by passengers on KAYAK after flying with an airline. KAYAK doesn’t show reviews that are older than 5 years. Learn how KAYAK collects reviews.
Need help choosing which airline to fly with from OR Tambo to Chicago? KAYAK airline reviews give an overall score for each airline based on loads of factors, including comfort, boarding, in-flight entertainment and more, to make your decision easier. See airline scores according to verified KAYAK customer reviews.
7,7
KLMOverall score based on 1435 reviews
8,4Crew
7,7Boarding
7,2Food
7,6Comfort
7,1Entertainment
Airline reviews

I’m grateful for the KLM Air France shuttle bus service to Ottawa. However due to construction and other issues related to the chaotic Uber pickup system at YUL, it’s a challenge to find the Kelios bus service to Ottawa. The signs are not clear or even available. No staff to guide passengers. It’s a stressful experience.

4,0 OkayShereen, Dec 2025
Read more KLM reviews

I’m grateful for the KLM Air France shuttle bus service to Ottawa. However due to construction and other issues related to the chaotic Uber pickup system at YUL, it’s a challenge to find the Kelios bus service to Ottawa. The signs are not clear or even available. No staff to guide passengers. It’s a stressful experience.

Flight was on time, staff are friendly and helpful onboard.

Terrible last row seats many seats available but no offer to move to better seat

Delay and had to run between flight to get my connection due to this delay but besides that the overall experience was ok. I arrived with just an hour of delay.

Couldn’t get boarding pass in SLC even with help from a redcoat, so had to find a desk in AMS to get boarding pass. Technical problems so not sure why. Very inconvenient. The KLM app is not as user friendly as most apps. Also had to wait almost an hour on the tarmac for a fuel truck, which caused us to miss a connecting bus in LUX.

The immigration hall in Amsterdam was understaffed, so passport checking was slower than it should be for a major airport. They need to get the automatic readers up and running for non EU passport holders. Waiting in line after a long flight feels a bit abusive.

Over 1 Hr delay. No APU so no AC on ground. Plane was hot during boarding and then they closed the doors over 20 minutes before engine start so interior of plane was steamy hot and stuffy. Could have been helped by opening doors until ready to depart.

KLM remains a quality flag carrier airline which maintains its standards whilst all their competitors are lowering theirs.

Our first flight was delayed so we missed our connecting flight. However it was easy to book a later flight on their app.

The service was great. However the lounge only gets passing grade

Very disappointing #1 - You have to pay extra to use the business lounge, or else you sit in the cold airport for 7 hours and fall sick #2 - Did an awful job with boarding, they turned on the "last call" notice on the monitor made the passengers come running to the gate, once the passengers came close the crew would tell them - hey we are not boarding yet, this included passengers with children also, this was happening all the time, it was pitiful to see #3 - Did not have the courtesy for the passengers in the business class, there is a reasons why people choose business class, because they need to get to work, that means sleep is very important for them, in the business class, the crew members would themselves cause so much noise by closing the door in a loud way, once the crew member does it then the other passengers are also doing it, #4 - the food did not smell good, #5 - The Abu Dhabi airport is small, so not a whole lot to do, especially when the layover is 7+ hours. #6 - Did not provide the slippers with pajamas, #7 - also the pajamas also I had to ask, only after asking it was provided. #8- Asked for an extra pillow because the pillow they provided was not tall enough, the crew member said there was no additional pillow and gave me something like a blanket, I tried my best to use that as a pillow, but my head kept on sliding and that messed up my sleep and did not get deep thorough sleep Overall the airlines did not have an understanding of how to care for the passengers, especially the business class ones. Overall it was a bad experience, I would much rather spend the money with Qatar airways, the experience with Qatar is so much better.

It’s a business class ticket but they didn’t give a lounge access

Seat space was tight and uncomfortable. There was hardly any cushioning giving me a terrible tail bone ache. Getting and out was extremely cramped. We paid for seat choices and felt totally ripped off. Food was mediocre. By the time the servers served 2 or 3 rows they ran out of this or that option as we saw on the inbound trip also. This is infuriating. Entertainment choices were extremely limited for such a long haul. The screen froze on occasion and did not switch off when the on off button was pressed. When it did it came back on its own in 5 seconds. The airlines has gone downhill since last year.

excellent, the staff was kind and the boarding process was with no issues or hassle

excellent, staff and boarding were all seamless and no issues, thank you!

Wish the flight attendants were more attentive in serving food

More leg space than other flights, but *maybe* narrower seats

More leg space than other flights, but felt like *maybe* narrower seats?

Poor boarding with incorrect gate numbers. Poor service they told me to throw away brand new water bottles. Poor immigration officers most likely American who hates Muslims. Poor service in the plane with no Urdu language sign posted anywhere. Horrible seats with no comfort at all they think people traveling in economy are animals. Slow food and water services. Slow baggage arrival.

Etihad charged me for 2 check in bags. On Kayak search results price was showing 2 check in bags were included. Kayak need to reimburse me for these additional charges and metal agony and distress. Thanks.

They did the one thing that really matters - got to Chicago early.

The flight was on time. I generally don’t drink or eat on short flights and the seats were good and the flight attendants were friendly. That’s all I expect

It was nice to have gotten up upgraded to first class with a meal on a three hour flight

Very bad! They kept delaying my flight and wouldn’t do anything about it

Door to door, the crew and staff were amazing. It was a stressful travel day with delays, but they were focused on customers and doing what they could to get us to our destinations.

United has come a long way, it’s been a fantastic experience traveling with them.

This flight leg was fantastic - super comfortable and a great selection of things to watch on the TV. Staff were excellent, really above and beyond.

Flight was delayed only slightly before takeoff due to traffic control. However, the flight arrived early to ORD. Good flight. United has been very reliable for me.

Another delayed flight. When the delays exceed the duration of the flight, it’s a problem.

After boarding the plane in Chicago, the passengers were told that there was a technical problem with the plane. Passengers remained on the plane as they tried to fix the problem. After what was probably an hour passengers were told that there was a need to change planes as the problem was not solved. Passengers disembarked and boarded another plane. After taxing to the runway and waiting for takeoff, passengers were told that owing to the thunderstorm the flight was unable to take off but would try and reroute. After some time passengers were told there wasn't enough fuel for the new route and the plane had to return to the gate for additional fuel. after another log delay the flight got underway. On the plane there was food, drinks, ice or entertainment. We were a glass of water, which appeared rationed. Flight arrived about 5 hours late. The pilot was fantastic and communicated with the passengers throughout the ordeal.

To be prepared for being treated with disrespect by the ground crew.

Seats too much and for the price we paid eve thought economy we still had to pay $169 to check a ba that’s ridiculous and also my daughter needed water so she can take her medicine we push the boton for the attendant to get us water they never came we push it 3 times no one came and ask what we needed . Am not happy with the service at all I will not fly with TK anymore

Boarding experience was a mess- both to and from Istanbul airport. No one knew anything. They asked everyone to line up according to their sit numbers- it was unbelievable. Business class had a separate line, but it was hard to find- I had to go through all that mess before finding it. Would not recommend

Excellent food and service on my international flight. Most notable is the food provided by Turkish even for coach passengers is very good.

They can my date of travel and let me standard in Istanbul for three days stop over and only pay for one day in a hotel with only one breakfast for three days.

the flight was cancelled and I was rebooked twice, once 26 hours later, then another 24 hours later. In total the flight was delayed for 40 hours. Never again will I use kayak or Turkish Airlines for my travel.

Worst experience with boarding once we left the wheel chair even traveling business we had to wait with all the crowd for the bus to take us to the plane then climb the stairs with our bags When you pay extra for comfort and convenience and you don’t get any is disappointing

Food is very turkish. No regard for other natinalities taste and preference. The entertainment can be improved- it was the same menu on 10/8/25 and 10/25/25. The boarding is the worst in the airline industry- I suggest you ask your staff to and watch how other airlines do it.

The best airline for international travel in terms of value you get in business class (service/cost)

I liked the overall flight experience. However, Turkish officials could do a better job at guiding non-Turkish speakers to their connecting flight gates in such a huge & vast airport.

Great seat in premium economy, great food and drinks throughout lots of in flight entertainment. 1 hour 40 min delayed flying out , 2 1/2 hour wait at passport control in tampa

Plane was extremely delayed, but not all of it was BA fault (some was). Worst part was lack of room - this had as much space as an Allegiant flight. I thought transatlantic usually gave you an extra inch or two, but not this one. Entertainment system sporadically worked and didn’t have great options. Overhead bins are old and tiny, not as good as aunties new planes.

My seat cushion was poor. The cushion was compressed and was uncomfortable for such a long flight.

Besides having a LONG layover in Philadelphia to begin with, our flight was delayed and left late. We spent 7 hours in the Philadelphia airport after being in the air 7 hours from Portugal to Philly. It turned into a 24 hour day of travel which was exhausting. I know you can't help weather but our layover was difficult as my husband is handicapped. The staff was EXTREMELY helpful with his wheelchair tho!!

I was in a bulkhead seat and my tray table wasn't level. Eating was difficult.

Audi visual not working for a whole group of seats in first class. How does a plane leave the main hub in such poor condition? How much that we can’t see so immediately is also compromised?

main meals are horrible but then you dont fly for the food

It was good. Couldn’t Check in online and select seats

It was great. Enough space and room for legs . Great service to.

⭐ British Airways Review — A Journey of Highs, Lows, and Lessons ⭐ I recently flew Business Class round-trip from Boston to Mumbai with British Airways, and my experience was a tale of two extremes — from disappointment to exceptional service, and then back to inconsistency. Boston → London: A Surprisingly Poor Start My journey began on a disappointing note. On a 6-hour Business Class flight, I was surprised to discover that there wasn’t a single proper vegetarian meal option available. I was offered a few bakery items only after repeatedly requesting something to eat. The flight attendant shrugged, offered no solution, and eventually — quite literally — threw some bread at me after much delay. This was not only disheartening, it was extremely surprising given my wonderful Business Class experience with BA last year. I stepped off that flight genuinely hungry and had to make a mad dash to the lounge just to get a proper meal. London → Mumbai: A Complete Turnaround The next sector restored my faith in British Airways. The entire crew was warm, welcoming, attentive, and genuinely caring. A special shoutout to Phiroze and the entire team serving the Business Class cabin — their professionalism, hospitality, and thoughtful service were extraordinary. They truly embodied what makes British Airways a global leader, and I am deeply grateful for the experience they provided. This is the BA I know and love. Mumbai → London: A Strange Meal Schedule This sector was generally fine, but the meal timing was puzzling. Lunch at 10:30 AM — for a Business cabin — felt unusual, and most passengers, including myself, barely touched it. The rest of the service was smooth, but the scheduling definitely needs a rethink. London → Boston: Mixed Experience Again The flight itself was decent, but the Business Lounge at Heathrow for this leg was a letdown. Arrived during lunch hours: no hot vegetarian options available Lounge area: dirty dishes everywhere Even after politely alerting the staff, the dishes were ignored and left uncleared For a premium cabin passenger — and at one of the world’s busiest international hubs — this was disappointing. Overall Impression My journey with British Airways felt inconsistent — two great sectors sandwiched between two that fell short of the BA standard. When BA is good, it is world-class. When it misses, the gap is noticeable. I genuinely hope the airline takes this feedback as constructive insight. I continue to believe in British Airways, and I commend the outstanding crew on the London → Mumbai sector — they were the highlight of my entire trip. With a little more focus on vegetarian meal availability, lounge service, and consistency across crews, BA can ensure every Business Class passenger experiences the premium journey they promise.

Everything you need to know for your flight from OR Tambo to Chicago

Information on your arrival and departure airports